Vacuum fuel-feeding device



. Mg my 1111 E. L. HUFFMAN VACUUM FUEL FEEDING DEVICE Filed March 1922 2 Sheets-Shem 1 wmw Au K2, 1'19:

E. HOFFMAN VACUUM FUEL FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets- Shea t B Fmeci March 9, W22

EDWARD L. HOE, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

VACUUM FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed March 9, 1922. Serial No. 54.2393.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Fuel-Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to an apparatus for elevating liquid by'means of suction and more particularly to an improved vacuum operated device for controlling the flow of fuel from the main tank to the carburetor in an internal combustion enne. The object of this invention is to provide a vacuum fuel-feeding tankwhich will supply fuel to the carburetor in an uninterrupted flow from a main tank at a lower level. I

To this end it is proposed to use but one valve for regulating the discharge of liquid and the admission of air at atmospheric pressure. This valve may be regulated by means other than that for varying the atmospheric ressure within the fuel supply tank, as is t1i e case in the conventional arrangement in devices of this nature. In the present invention it is proposed to connect a float by means of suitable levers to the valve. Thus the float acts as a means for regulating the valve, the buoyancy of the float tending to open the valve and the weight of the float tending to close the valve.

It is further proposed to provide two floats in opposed relation and either independent of each other or connected together, the lower float being adapted to regulate, by means of its connection to the above mentioned valve, the admissionof air at atmospheric pressure, and also the discharge of fuel into a gravity tank for feeding the carbureter, while the upper float controls, by means of a plunger valve integral therewith, the amount of suction from such suitable source as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

The inexpensiveness of manufacture as well as the simplicity of design and construction, and the method and effect of its positive and satisfactory operation in actual use also form salient features of the advantages of my improved device over those now in use and present within the art.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which shall appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated and claimed.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the vacuum fuel feed tank.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof showing the location of the fuel inlet and the suction and breather nipples.

. Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view showing the relation of the fuel feed tank with the main gas tank and the intake manifold and carbureter of an internal combustion engine.

Figure 4: is a detailed view of the breather nipple.

Referring. more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the main gas tank providpd with a pipe 2 leading to a vacuum operated fuel feed tank designated as an assembly at 3 and connected to an inlet nipple 10. Another pipe 4 extends from the nipple 11 of the tank 3 to the intake manifold 6 of the internal combustion engine 5 shown diagrammatically in dotted lines. Pipe 7 from the lower extremity of the tank 3 extends to the float chamber 8 of the carburetor 9. The tank 1 is the source of fuel supply, and the source of less-than-atmospheric pressure is in this instance the intake manifold 6 of the internal combustion engine 5 and is connected by the pipe 4 extending to and connected to the suction nipple 11.

The tank assembly 3' consists in an outer container 24; and an inner container 13, providing respectively a lower chamber and an upper chamber, said containers being connected together at their upper extremities by means of screws 36. A suitable gasket 28 is provided for the purpose of preventing leakage or unregulated admission of air into the inner, container 13. A bafile cup 31 is arranged interiorly of the inner container 13 and is connected to the top 30 thereof. The bafiie cup 31 has arranged inside thereof an inverted cup-shaped float 15 mounted on the spindle 39 which has attached thereto a plunger valve 16 to regulate the passage 11' of the nipple 11.

Holes 32 and 33 are provided in the baffle cup 31 in order to prevent the trapping of liquid within said cup.

A second upright float 17 is mounted on a spindle 40 in the lower portion of the inner container 13 and has an extension 37 pivotally connected at 38 to the bell crank 19 which is pivoted at 20. The arm 19 is rovided with a recess 22 to receive the -ook 21 of the valve 18 with a certain amount of play.

When the tank 3 is empty and the floats 15 and 17 are in their lowest position, suction isv applied to the nipple 11 by means of the pipe 4 establishing a connection to the intake manifold 6 whlch acts as a means of supplying a suction when the engine is in operation, as will be understood. This suction draws the fluid through nipple 10 and deposits it in the inner container 13: Under conditions of excessive suction, as for example, when the engine is idling with closed throttle, the inner container fills rapidly with fuel. The float 17, although submerged and 1 therefore in possession ofits full boyancy,

cannot open the valve 18 due to the difference in pressure existing between the inner. container 13 and the outer container 24. When the fluid reaches approximately the level as indicated by the dotted'lines at 14, the'upper float 15 rises, due to its buoyancy, and forces the plunger valve 16 against its seat, closing the passageway 11 of the suction nipple 11, thus shutting oif the suction. Under average operating conditions, shown by actual test, the fuel accumulates until the level of the fuel in the outer container 24 and the in ner container 13 is an inch or more above the line 26, that is, the lower float 17 is submerged. There are no clean-cut steps in a cycle of operations as in the case described above.

1 The valve 18 is partially open and the valve 16 fully open.

Under the conditions first above assumed, when suction is cut off by the closing of the valve 16, the lower float 17 is enabled to rise, thus opening the valve 18, this being accomplished by means of the spindle 40 and the extension 37 pulling upwardly on the bell crank 19 at its pivotal connection 38 and rotating'said crank about its pivot 20 forcing the arm 19' against the hook 21 of the valve 18, sliding the-latter on the guide and stop pin 35 away from the valve seat 27; a certain amount of play being provided between the valve 18 and its connection to the upper guide and stop pin 34 in order to allow the lower portion of the valve to swing open.

As the valve is opened, air at atmospheric pressure is admitted through the valve opening 23 into the inner container 13 and at the same time, the liquid within the inner container 13 flows through said valve opening into theouter container 24, from which it is free to flow by means of gravity'through the outlet nipple 12 and pipe 17 to the float chamber 8 of the carbureter 9.

The outer tank 24 is continuously opened to the atmosphere through the breather nipple 25 provided at any suitable point but preferably at the top as shown in Figure 2 and also in detail in Figure 4. When the level of the fuel in the inner container 13 has fallen to approximately the level as indicated b the dotted lines at 26, the upper float 15 as fallen to its lowest position, opening the lunger valve 16, the valve 18 being closed y means of the weight of the lower float 17 exerting a pulling effect on the valve 18 through the bell crank 19 and the hook 21 attached thereto and to said valve 18, as will be understood. This cycle being completed is repeated as long and as often as the engine is in operation.

The valve seat 27 for seating the valve 18 is preferably made of soft material such as cork for providing a leak-proof seating of the valve. A strainer 29 may be arran ed in the inlet nipple 10 for collecting any in" eign matter and preventing same from being circulated through the vacuum tank and carbureter.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a vacuum fuel feedin tank capable of supplying fuel to the car ureter of an internal combustion engine in an uninterrupted flow from a main fuel tank having a lower level than that of the carburetor float, and while my device has hereinafter been described and illustrated as particularl adapted in the capacity set forth, it will e understood that various other uses may be made thereof.

It will be obvious that the nature of the fluid controlled by my device is immaterial and the selection thereof alternative, and that the device, for example, may be employed, if desired, for supplying oil for lubrication, as well as supplying oil for fuel.

It is therefore not desired to limit my invention to the present disclosure but to restrict same only to such a degree as will fall within the broadest interpretation of the ap ended claims.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine of such character that the pressure in the intake manifold is practically continuously less than atmospheric pres sure, a main low level tank, a fluid supply receptacle located in a plane thereabove, said receptacle comprising an inner and outer contalner, means located wholly within said inner container for regulating the intake of said fluid from said main tank and the discharge of said fluid into and the admission of air thereinto from said outer container, said means consisting in a plurality of opposed fluld operated floats; and means.

connected thereto and adapted to regulate suction for supplying said fluid, and a fluid discharge and air admission valve between said inner and outer container.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine of such character that the pressure in the intake manifold is practically continuously less than atmospheric pressure,

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a main low level supply tank, a fluid supply receptacle located in a plane above said tank, said receptacle comprising an inner and outer container, said inner containerl being provided with an inlet passage to receive said fluid and a suction nipple to receive suction from a suitable source, an upper and lower float in said inner container, said upper float being adapted to actuate a valve for regulating suction applied to said inner container, and said lower float being adapted to actuate a valve for admitting air at atmospheric pressure and discharging said fluid into said outer container, said outer, with a breather container being provided nipple and an outlet for said fluid.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine of such character that the pressure in the intake manifold is" practically continuously less than atmospheric pressure, a main low level supply tank, a fluid supply tank located in a plane thereabove, said tank comprising an inner and outer container, said inner container being provided with an inlet passage to receive said fluid and a suction nipple to receive suction from a suitable source, an upper and lower float in said inner, container, said upper float being mounted on a spindle integral with a plunger valve, said u per float bein arranged interiorly of a ba e cup provided with holes at the'top and bottom thereof, said plunger valve being adapted to regulate the supply of suction applied to said suction nipple, an oscillating valve for regulating the admission of air at atmospheric pressure to said inner container and the discharge therefrom of fluid into said outer container, said lower float being adapted to control said oscillating valve by means of a bell crank attached to said lower float and to a hook member on said valve for the purpose of swinging said valve upon suitable stop and guide pins alternately away from and against said seat, said outer tank being provided with a breather nipple forthe admission of air, and a discharge outlet for said fluid to the device to be supplied.

I. In combination with a low level fuel tank, a vacuum tank at an upper level comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamher, said lower chamber having an atmospheric opening and an outlet opening communicatmg with a receptacle to be supplied with fuel from said vacuum tank, and said upper chamber having a fuel intake opening, a suction opening, and a fuel dischar e and suction relief opening leading into said and said inner lower chamber, an upper and lower float in said upper chamber, said upper float controlling a valve for regulating saidsuction opening and said lower float controlling a valve regulating the admission of air to said upper chamber from the lower chamber and the discharge of fuel from the upper chamber to the lower chamber through the opening establishing communication therebetween.

5. In combination with a low level fuel tank, a vacuum tank at an upper level, comprising an upper inner container and a lower outer container, said outer container having an atmospheric opening and an outlet opening communicating with a receptacle to be supplied with fuel from said vacuum tank container having a fuel intake opening, .a suction opening, and a fuel discharge and suction relief opening in the side wall of the said inner container leading into said outer container, a flap valve in the side wall of the said inner container, and a float in said inner container connected with said valve to operate the same.

6. Incombination with a low level fuel tank, a vacuum tank at an upper level having two chambers provided by an inner container, and an outer container, a fuel inlet and a suction opening provided in said inner container, a fuel outlet and an atmos' pheric opening provided in said outer cont-ainer, a fuel discharge and air admission port establishing communication between said inner container and said outer container, a float operated valve for regulating said port and an outwardly seating check valve for closing said suction opening in said inner containe 7. In combination with a low level fuel tank, a vacuum tank at a higher level, consisting of an upper and lower chamber provided by an inner and outer container respectively, a fuel inlet and suction opening provided in said inner container, a fuel discharge and atmospheric opening provided in said outer container, a fuel discharge and air admission port in the side wall of said inner container establishing communication with said outer container, a flap valve hinged at its upper end to seat over said port, a bell crank pivoted inside said inner container ad acent said valve having its short arm connected with said valve and its long arm connected with a float operating in said inner container. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD L. HOFFMAN.

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